Railway signaling apparatus



H. W. GRIFFIN RAILWAY SIGNALING APPARATUS.

Dec. 21 1926.

` 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May` I'7. 1925 Dec. H. W. GRIFFIN RAILWAY SIGNALING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 yFiled May '7. 1925 MN. .WN

Aff/.2 ATTORNEY Patented Dec.y 21, 1926.

HENRY w. GRIFFIN, or NEW YORK, N. Y., assIsNoE ro THE UNION SWITCH & sientan i l COMPANY, or swIssvALE,V PENNSYLVANIA, AO-OEPOEATION or PENNSYLVANIA.

RAILWAY SIGNALING APPARATUS. 'i

Application led May 7,V

vMy invention relates to railwaysigna-ling -apparatus, and particularly to apparatus of the controlled manualtype for ,stretches of. single track over which traffic must at times vmove in opposite directions. ,Y y

I will describet-wo forms of signaling apparatus embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof inclaims. Y, AW y@ Y In the accompanying drawings', Fig; 1 isa diagrammatic view showing one form of. signaling apparatus embodying my invention. Fig.'2 is a view showing the circuit controlling positions of levers LA and LB in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a. diagrammatic view showing a moditicationof the signaling appara' tus shown in Fig. l and also embodying myV invention. Fig. 4 is a view.' showing the circuit controlling positions of the levers LA and LB in Fig. 3. Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each ofthe several views. V

VReferring first to Fig. 1,"the reference characters land 1a designate the track rails of a stretchvof railway track between two stations A and B. The stretch of track between these stations is divided by insulated joints 7 into a plurality of track sections each of which is provided with antrack cir* cuit comprising a track battery 8: and a track` relay designated by the reference character T, with a distinguishing exponent. Located at the station A is an interlocking machine comprising a traffic lever LA and a signal lever DA. Located at station Bis another interlocking machine `comprising a traitic lever LB and a signal lever DB.) `Each of the traiiic levers LA and LB when swung to the left occupies what is known as the normal7 position, and when swung to the right it occupies what is known asl the reverse position. As shown in the drawing, each oi these levers is'in the normalposition, wherein each contact N associated with thelever is tact 9B in a similarmanner. v

closed. 'When each ot these-levers is in its reverse position, each contact R associated with the lever' is closed. Nhen the lever is in the middle position, each contactC asso# ciated with the lever is closed. These three positions of the lever are indicateddiagrammatically in Fig. 2.

Located adjacent the station-'ift4 islasignal;

SAtor governing the entrance ot' trains mov- A ing toward the left into the stretch ot track Ybetween. the stations and'B.` Located ad-` Y"DA to clear signal SAandfto thereby vallo-w 'trainsmoving in the direction indicated by 4nal SB cannot be cleared. i With'the parts in the, p,o sitions.shownI 110- 19725. SerialrNo. 28,574.

controlled byleverDA in such manner that y when this lever is in the normal positionthe circuit for the signal is opened and so the' signal indicates stop, whereas when the lever moves' to its reverse position the circuit for n the signal is'closed and the signal then in- 65 dicates proceed. The control of signal SB by lever DB is similarv to the control' of signal SA by lever DA. i y Y The levers LAA and DA are interlocked in suchmanner that when lever vLA isreverse lever DAis locked in the normal position, that is, in such position that signal SA in,- dicates stop.4 vLevers LB and DB are interloclred in such manner thatwhen lever LB is in the normal Position lever DBis locked inthe normal position, so that signal SBfindicates stop. In order to release signal lever DB lever LB must be reversed. v y y Traiiic lever LA is provided with a magnetoperated lock GA, comprising a segment 37 80 liXed to-the lever LA and cooperating with a latchy 38'controlled by agmagnet 2A. lVhen `magnet'A is deenergized,l theY lock GA prevents movement O lever LA from its middle position toits normal position, but the lever B5 is freev to move from normaltov reverse positions without energization ot magnet 2A'. Lever LB is providedr with asimilar lock GB, controlled by a magnet 2B, the arrangement being such thatthe lock prevents the lever from moving tromrits middle-position toits reverse positionv unless magnet 2B is energized. Lever. LB` is free to movefrom its reverse to its normal posit-ion, however, withoutenergization of magnet 2B. f 95 The lock GA controls alock contact 97A,

-whi'ch vis closed when the latch 38 is in its` lower position and open when the` latchk is elevated. The lock GB vcontrols a lock con- 1 10o As shown. in the drawing,vlevers LA and LB, are both in normal positions. l The towerman at station A may therefore reverse lever the arrow tol enterthe ystretch of track bes tween the Vtwo stations. Lever DB is locked inits `normal position, however, so that sig` FB in accordance the circuit.V Af-siecle tact 9B, Wire 10, normal contact N2 ot' lever LB, Wire 11, Contact 12 of traclrrelay T, Wire 13, contact 14 ot track relay TB, Wire 15,'

Contact 16 ot track relay T3 Wire 17 Wind ino of rela FA WireV 1S' contact N5 on leverA LA, resistance 6A, Wire 19, push button PA, Wire 20, contact 21 ot track relay TB, Wire 22, contact 23 ot' relay T2, Wire 2li, contact 25 ot relay T', Wire Q6, Winding of relay F B, Wire- 27, push button PB, Wire 28, normal contact N3 vvon lever LB, :and Wire 29 to battery HB. This circuit causes relays FA 'and FB to be energized, land these relays in turn cause indicators EA and EB to be lighted. The circuit for indicator EA passes 'trom bat-- 'tery 5A, through Contact AO of relay FA, and the-indicator -FiAfto battery 5A. T he circuit for indicator EB vris controlled in a similar manner by contact a0 ot relay FB, and 'is su-ppliedwith current by a batter-y 5B. These indicators EA and EB being lighted, interni the tovermen that the circuit between the tvvostations isv intact yand that the stretch ot track between these towers is unoccupied.

I will now assume that the towermanfat station B Wishes to permit a train movingA t'roinlett to right to enter the stretch oit track between the tivo stations. vTo do this the'operator at station B signals the operatorat stationA by operating push button fitha prearranged code, such, for example, as three successive openings of the circuit, thereby causing relay FA to become cle-energized three times, with the-result that indicator EA becomes extinguished three times. It the operator at station A is ready to permit reversal of trafiic, he responds by operation of his push button PA in accordance with a p'rearranged code, thereby causing indicator FB at station B to flash. The operator at station A then shifts his traiiic lever LA to the reverse `posit-ion. The reversal ot lever LA `functions to include battery lHA in the circuit hereinbeiore traced. The portion ot this circuit at sta'- tion A then -paesestron'i Wire 17, through relay FA, Wire 18, reverse 'contact RA, Wire l32, "battery -HA Wire 81, lock contactV 9A.

Wire 30, reverse contact i 5, Wire 19, and pi'lsh button PA to Wire Q0; During the. rever-sal of lever LA, the line circuit is momentarily opened betvveen the time normal contact N5 opens and reverse contacts RA, R5 close; this causes indicatorEB 2to be momenu tarily extinguished, thereby informing the operator station B that Alever LA has been reversed., The operator lstation B their.A

moves hisV lever LB to the middle position wherein` contacts@l and@2 are closed, and i this functions toexclude batteryfHB from the A circuit -aiidto include the lool'Y T por ion liriagnet 2B in he iom' Waraji 1 mit Le* through conta-ct C, Wire 83, lojclr magnet 2B, Wire 34, contact C2, Wire 28, f-push button PB Wire 27 and winding of relay FB to Wiret. Lock magnet'ZB being energized, latch 38 is elevated-to release the segment 87, so that lever LB may then be moved to its .reverseV malv position, so that signal SA cannot bev cleared.

Relays FA and FB are 110W energizeditroin battery HA, Vthe resistance 6B at'station lyben ing substituted for the'lockmagnet 2B which isin the circuit at the Itime thatthe release ot-le'verLB occurs. Y

TWith both -levers LA Vand LB reversed, l ivi-llfassum'e that the Yoperator at station A desires topermita train inoving'from right to left to enter the stretch of track between the stations. To dothi's, he signals the operator at `stat-ion B through the medium of push button PA, the operator at station B acknowledges v vrthis signal b-y in turn signaling the operator at ,stationl A through the medium'of push button PB, and the operator at stationl B then shifts his trafilic lever LB to the normal position. This movement of level-LB opens Contact R2, and restores bat tery kHB to the circuit because of the closing;y

teiyrHB, whereupon theloclr GA is actuated to vrelease lever-LA, and the operator at sta tion A then com pletes the movement ot lever LA to itsnorinal position. YThe parts ofthe apparatus are then restored to the positions in fiv-hic'h they-are shown in the drawing, so that levei-DA`1nay be'reversed to cause signal SA to indicate proceed, i lt. will be noted that there-leasing; circ for :lockV nia-guet 2 ateach station Finclu the loclr contact9`at the other station. This insuresthat.'neither levercan Je released unless the other lever is locked,

lliocated at stationA arertvvo 'direction indicatorsA and iA,iandfeach ot which isfpreflerably in the form fot ai lamp. Vprovided 4with an arrow onf-tire outside of "the lamp case. tvtlwifor .r 3A points to. the left,

" use of contacts on the relays FAandFi-f. v-

vAlthoughfl havelhereinsiiovvn and de' ofzanyfderangcment, Asuch .as la sliort circuit.

f (e) lPractical impessibility otAV `securing a f alserelease due to short: circuit.'

- (fr) AA line 'circuit' which 1is1 selfKyi contained, inthatit hasnjoline Wire in common -vvitli anyother circuit; '4 o ('92) The possibility of furnishing,- track circuit control .for tlief signali throughout the entire YterritOryIbetWeen.. stations, through the scribed only two forms of .apparatus embodying my invention, Tit is ui'iderstoodfthat various changes and modifications may be,y Vmade therein Within the scope oiffftheV apspirit and scope of' my invention.

:Having thus describedmy invention what claim is; -f l,

pendeldzclaims vWithout departing fronifthe l1.1111 combination, al stretch ofrailway.

tr; ckextending from a station rie to a; station B', a tratficlever-'LA at station A,'a magnet-V Voperatedv lock for preventing leveriLAv 'from moving :to its normal position, yatraiiic lever LB at-fstation B, va' magneeoperated' lock .for :preventing i lever AL1A-,trom movin g to itsy ieversexposition; a relay, Fabattery and a normally. closed .push button atl eachI station 5 anindicatorat each station controlledby the associated relay. :f 'a vcircuit including `the b at- Y Y ery at station B, normal contacts on each of said levers, said .tivof`vp'iisli biitt'ons, and said tivo relays; .track circuits for said stretch for controlling'asaid,.circuit, Vmeans yoperating` when lever LA is reversed :to inl clude thebattery Vatsta'tion A in said circuit, means V*operatin,if when lever lLB' is moved to i .an intermediate position to exclude .the 'battery at station B from said circuit'and to in-` clude the Amagnet for lever L'B in said circuit, means yoperating when lever LA is -inovedt'o Y an intermediate positionto include the niagnet ttor lever LA in `said circuit, a' signal at station AL for governing traiiic Vinto said*v stretch, a signal leverforvcontrolling said signalv interlocked with Ilever LA in such y manner Ithat the signal Ylever can not bel re-V versed vunless lever LA lis iii normal 'positiom a signal at stationB for governing tra'iicL into said stretch, and a signal lever for conn A trolling said second signal i'nterlocked 'With B,v a traine lever LA yat station Ama magnet'- lever LB in such manner that the signal le' ver can bereversed only -vvhen f'lfev'e'rf LB' is reve-rsed.` l' Y' i Y 211i combination, va stretch of Arai'lv/ay track'extending ironial stati'on'A to as'tgatiio'n operated lockior preventing iev moving-to 'its iidrn-ial-posit'iii, aftfra'iiic lever lLB ats'tatioii B,f`a"fiiia t opera '4 pre-venting" 'lever 'LB from VViriovi n n verse pOsitloiig-arela a battery'and ,a1 ormally n a aclist on an indicator' at each station kcoiitidlled lassociated relay; a circuit including the batteryV at station B, nornialicontacts on'-eachV of'said levers, said 4two push buttons, and

said tWo relays; track circuits for said stretch for controlling said circuit, means operating'vvhen lever LA is reversed to'ini clude the battery at station 'A in said circuit,`

means operating rwhen lever LU is moved' to Yan intermediate position to Vexclude the battery atstation B from said circuit and to include the lock magnet for vleveijllB in said circuit, means Voperating when lever LA- 'is moved to an intermediate position; to in V clude the lock magnet VVfor lever LA in said ci 1cuit, and signals controlledfby said levers v so :tor governing traiiic intoY said stretch.

'3. In combination', arstretcli' oi railway track extending from a station A to a station B, a tratliclever LA at station A, a. mag-V net-operated lock for preventing Vlever LA from movingl to its normalpositio'n, a trai'tic f lever LB at station B, a iiiagnet-operated lock for 'preventing` lever L'irom4 moving to its reverse position; va relay,'a battery, a resistance and a normally closed push button at each station, an indicator at'each station con trolled by tlieassociated relay; afcircuit in` cluding the battery at station B, normal contacts on each ofsaid levers, said ltwo relays, andthe resistance Vatstation A, track rcircuits for lsaid stretch for controlling said circuit, means operating lWhen lever LAis reversed to exclude the lresistancefat station A from said circuit and include the battery at station Ain said circuit, means operating when lever LB is moved to an intermediate position to' eiclude the battery at station B :from saidV circuit and/include the magnet lili) for lever LB in said circuit, kineans operating When the movement'of lever LB is continued to the reverse positionr to exclude the magnet *for lever LB tromsaid circuit and '.to include,

the resistance at station B' in said "circuit, means Voperatingv when ,lever LA isreturiied to an intermediate position to include .the magnet for lever LA in said circuit and exclude tliebattery at station A from said circuit, and signals controlled by said levers Vra'normally closed vpush' button at each sta-l tioiif;` an Pindioafr at each stationfcontrolled by thel associated relay; a'circuit including the battery at. station B', "normal'contac'ts ony said lever,l said AYtivo VYpush buttons, saidv 'two relays, and the lock contact associated iio ,Y

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17,611,184 v A a y Y with lever LB; track circuits for said stretch ttor controlling said circuit, means operated when lever LA is reversed to include the battery and the lock contact. at station A n said circuit, means operating 'when lever LBV is moved to an intermediate position to exclude the battery "and the lock contact at station B from said circuit and to include the lock magnet for lever LB in said circuit,

means operating when leverr LA is moved to an intermediate position to include the lock magnet for lever LA in said circuit, and signals controlled by said levers for governing tratc into said stretch. f

5. In combination, a stretch. of railway track-extending from a station A to a station B, a traflic lever LA at station A and a t-raiiic lever LB at station B, a magnet-operated lock for preventing movement of lever LA to its normal position, a magnet-operated lock for preventing movement of lever LB to its reverse position; a relay and a battery at eachstation; an indicator at each station controlled by the associatedl relay; a circuit including the battery at station B, normal contacts on said levers and said two relays; track circuits for said stretchfor controlling said circuit, means operating when lever LA is reversed to include the battery at station A in said circuit, means operating when lever LB is movedto an intermediate position to exclude the battery at station B from said circuit and to include the lockmagnet for lever LB in said circuit, means operatdiate position to include the lock magnet for lever LA in said circuit, and signals controlled by said levers for governing traiific into said stretch.

6. In combination, a stretch of railway 'track extending from a station A to a sta-` tion B, a traffic lever -LA at station A, a

niagnet-operated lock for preventing leverv LA from moving to its normal position, a

traffic lever LB at station B, a magnet-operated lock for preventing lever LB from moving to its reverse position; a relay and a battery at each station, mea-ns fork energizing both of said relays from the batt-ery at station B when both of said levers are/in noring when lever LA is moved to an interme-` stretch.

7. In combination, a` stretch of railway track extending from a station A to a station B, a traiic lever LAlat station A anda traiiic lever LB at station B, l,a magnet-oper- A* ated lock for preventing movement of lever p LA from its normal indication position to its normal position, a magnet-operated lock for preventing movement of lever LB'rom its reverse indication position to its reverse position; a relay, a battery and a normally closed push button at each station; an indicator at each station controlled by the associated relay; a circuit-including the battery at station B, normal contacts on said levers, said two push buttons, and said two relays; track circuits for said stretch for controlling said circuit, Vmeans operating when lever LA is moved to a position between reverse indication and lreverse positions to excludethe relay at station A froml and include the battery at stationA in said circuit, means operating'wlien lever 'LB is moved to its middle position to exclude the battery and the relay at station B from and y include the lock magnet for lever LB Ain said circuit,means operating when lever LA is moved to its reverse position to restore the relay at station A to said circuit, lmeans oper-` atingvwhen lever LB is moved to its reverse position to exclude the lock magnet for lever LB from and restorethe relay at' station B in said circuit, and signals controlled -by said levers for governing traffic into said stretch. i

In testimony whereof I aiiix` my signa- HENRY GRIFFIN.

ture. A 

